Tuning device for string instruments



May 21, 1940. F. J. NICKEL. JR

TUNING DEVICE FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1938 6 z m Am @2722 Q i 1 m I M n m j Mi e i w Q m x m g I x/ fl w w I fi Q 4 2 .4 x m. 5w

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ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUNING DEVICE FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS 4 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments, and is particularly directed to tuning devices for string instruments.

It is Well known that when a string of a musical instrument breaks, the replacement of the string is tedious, as the string must be detached from the adjusting key or peg, and one end of the new string threaded into the key. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved strings for musical instruments and improved means for mounting the strings on the instrument, and adjusting the tension of the string.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple and compact musical instrument of the character described having highly improved means for tuning the strings, and which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, in which it shall be easy to replace broken strings, which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangement of parts which will be exempliiied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the end of a neck of a guitar or other musical instrument of the string type, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of one of the connectors;

Fig. 5 is one end view of the connector shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is the other end view of said connector; and

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of one of the strings.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l0 designates the neck of a guitar or the like string musical instrument. The neck I0 is provided with a plurality of keys or pegs II for tightening 0r tuning the strings.

Ordinarily, the strings are attached at one end to the tail-piece, and at the other end directly attached to the pegs or keys ll. When a string breaks, one of the parts thereof must be withdrawn from the adjusting pegor key and another string must be threaded at one end to the key. For this reason it has heretofore been tedious to replace a string on a musical instrument.

In accordance with my invention, there is attached to the upper surface of the neck I0, adjacent the outer end thereof, and just inwardly of the keys II, a member I 4 having a flat plate portion l5 and a raised or thickened portion [6. Member 14 is attached to the neck by a pair of screws l1 passing through the plate portion l5 and by a central screw l8, passing through the thickened portion IS.

The thickened portion I 6 is formed with a plurality of milled grooves 20, there being as many grooves as there are strings. In an instrument with six strings, three of the grooves are inclined to the right and three to the left, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The grooves extend entirely through the thickened portion l6. Each groove 20 has a narrow neck portion 2| forming under shoulders 22 on opposite sides of the groove.

Slidably mounted within each groove 20 is a connector 25. Each connector 25 has a bottom plate portion 26, and upwardly and inwardly curved portions 21 and 28, at the ends thereof. The upstanding portion 28 is formed with a through opening 29. The other upstanding portion 21 is formed with a slot 30. Fixed to the middle of the plate portion 26 is an upwardly extending pin 32, serving as a handle, whereby the connector 25 may be slidably moved up and down within the groove 20. 28 of each connector 25 contact the shoulders 22, and the pin or handle 32 passes upwardly through the neck 2| of each groove.

Just below the member 14 is an upwardly extending transverse nut 35 formed with slots 36,

aligned with the middle of the grooves 20, there being one slot 36 for each groove.

In accordance with the present invention, the strings are not connected directly to the keys H. One of the strings employed in the present instrument is shown in Fig. 7, designated by numeral 40. The string has a ball 4| or other fixed anchor at each end. The bell 4| at one end of the string may be connected to the tailpiece of the instrument, in any suitable manner,

for example to a bifurcated hook on the tailpiece. The upper end of the string 40 passes through one of the slots 36, and through the slot 30 of the adjacent connector, the ball engaging on the inner side of the inwardly curved The portions 21 and r each connector is in turn connected by a string 41 to one of the adjusting keys or pegs i i.

It will be noted that the innermost grooves 29 have the greatest inclination, and the outermost grooves have the least inclination, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

It will now be understood that when a string 40 breaks or snaps, one part thereof may be unhooked from the connector 25, and the other part may be unhooked from its connection to the tail-piece oi the instrument. A new string may be quickly installed by connecting the same to the connector 25, in the manner shown in the drawing. Ihe peg H associated with the broken string may be loosened to permit the connector to he moved downwardly in its g oove ill), to

facilitateconnection of the string 40 thereof.

;may be tightened again to properly tune the string.

A cover 56 may be provided for the thickened portion of member 54. The cover ll may. have atop-wall 55, side Walls 52, a Lower end Wall 53,

and an upper end wall The wall 53 may be provided with rooves 5E to permit the strings "30 to pass therethrough. The wall 54 may be provided with slots 59 to permit the strings ii to" pass therethrough.

The strings ll may be h avier or stronger than the strings 5.6, so as not to readily break or snap.

It will be understood that the cover iii must be removed in order to replace a broken string on the instrument.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this inven :tion. achieved, and which is Well. adapted to meet the conditions of: practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set fo ;h, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing isto be interpreted illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my inv lion, I claim new and desire to-secnre by l. tters Patent:

1. A connector member for a musical instrument having a neck and a plurality of rotatz-ible string tuning keys attire outer end of eck, said member adapted to be fixedto said neck in-- wardly of the keys end being formed with piui'ality of through gooves, connector element sidably mounted within each groove, each conncctor elementhaving an upstanding portion at ment having a neck and a plurality of rotatable string'tuning keys at the outer end of said neck, said connector member adapted to be fixed to said neck inwardly of the keys and having a plu rality of through grooves, a connector element slidably mounted within each groove, each connector element having an upstanding portion at each end, the upstandingportion at one end having an opening, a string passing through said opening, and having a head engaging said upstanding portion, theother end of said string being attached to one of said keys, the upstanding portion at the other end of each connector element being formed with a slot, a string extending along the neck of the instrument and passing through the slot in said other upstanding portion, and having a head at one end engaging said upstanding portion, and a central pin fixed to each connector element and passing upwardly above said groove and serving as a handle for moving said connector element in the groove.

3. A connector member for a musical instrument having a neck and a plurality of rotatable element being formed with a slot, a string extending along the neck of the instrument and passing through the slot in said other upstanding portion, and having a head at one end engaging said upstanding portion, a central pin fixed to each connector element and passing upwardly above said groove and serving as a handle for moving said connector element in the groove, and

a cover for the grooved member, having slots to pinnt passage of the strings through the cover.

4. A connector member for a musical instrument having a neckanda plurality of rotatable string tuning keys at the outer end of said neck,

said member adapted to be fixed to said neck inwardly of the keys and formed with a plurality of through grooves, a connector element slidably mounted within eaclrgroove, each connector element having. upstanding portion at each end,

the upstanding portion at one end having an opening, a string passing through said opening, and having a head engaging said upstanding portion, the other end of said stringbeing attached to one of said keys, the upstanding portion at the other end of each connector. element being formed with a slot, 9. string extending along the neck of the instrument and passing through the slot in said other upstanding portion, and having a head at one end engaging said upstanding portion, a central pin fixed to each connector element and passing upwardly above said groove and serving as a handle for moving said connector element in the groove, and a cover for the grooved member, having slots to permit passage of the strings through the cover, said neck having a transverse nut, adjacent said member, and formed with slots to receive the second mentioned strings.

FRANK J. NICKEL, JR. 

